Threats against Cyprus and a renewed proposal by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a regional conference on the delimitation of maritime zones, including the participation of the self-proclaimed “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC), are outlined in a letter submitted by Turkey’s Permanent Mission to the UN. The letter is in response to the new drilling programme in Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
On 24 December, Cypriot authorities issued a NAVTEX announcing the commencement of preparatory and drilling operations by ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy in Block 5 of the Cypriot EEZ. This marks the resumption of exploratory activities following a months-long hiatus.
Turkish claims and threats
According to a Liberal.gr report, the letter submitted to the UN Security Council (UNSC) by Turkey’s Permanent Representative, Ahmet Yildiz, reiterates familiar claims that the Republic of Cyprus does not represent the entire island. It asserts the “inalienable” rights of Turkish Cypriots to the natural resources “in and around the island.” These assertions are made despite the TRNC and Turkey’s claims that the “TRNC” is an independent state with its own maritime zones, yet they still seek rights south of Cyprus in areas delineated with Egypt and Israel.
The letter, supported by Turkey, threatens “equivalent and reciprocal measures to protect the inherent and inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriot people to hydrocarbons in and around the island” and warns that any regional cooperation or forum on this issue that excludes the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey is “unrealistic, counterproductive, and serves only to increase tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Turkey also attempts to revive Erdoğan’s proposal for a regional conference of Eastern Mediterranean countries to achieve a “fair” delimitation of maritime zones. This includes demands for the TRNC to participate as an equal partner to the Republic of Cyprus, an attempt to elevate the international status of the TRNC. These proposals are made even as Turkey seeks to impose faits accomplis, violating the Law of the Sea, including signing the Turkey-Libya Memorandum and potentially pursuing a similar agreement with Syria’s temporary military regime.
While Ankara strongly opposes Cyprus’s plans to explore and exploit natural resources in its EEZ, it has not yet issued an official response. It remains unclear whether it will limit itself to diplomatic manoeuvres or revert to provocative actions, such as deploying research and drilling vessels for illegal operations in Cyprus’s EEZ.
The letter to the UN
The letter submitted to the UN Security Council:
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